complete verse (Romans 9:7)

Following are a number of back-translations of Romans 9:7:

  • Uma: “It is not all the descendants of Abraham that indeed become the children of Abraham. For God’s words to Abraham are like this: ‘Only the descendants of Ishak will be your (sing.) descendants according to my promise, not your (sing.) other descendants. ‘” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “And not all the descendants of Ibrahim can be called/named his real/true descendants. This is true because God said hep to Ibrahim, ‘Of your (sing.) children, only just the descendants of Isahak will I regard/consider your (sing.) descendants.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “As for all who are called the descendants of Abraham, not all of them are also thought of God as the true descendant of Abraham, which is to say, not all of them will receive the promises of God. For God said long ago to Abraham, He said, ‘By means only of Isaac are your true descendants.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Neither are all who are descended-from Abraham his true grandchildren/descendants (diff. word), because God said to Abraham, ‘It is only the descendants of Isaac who will be counted as your grandchildren/descendants.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Because God told Abraham that not all of his descendants would become God’s people. God told him: ‘Concerning the children of Isaac, only those will become God’s children’ he told him.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

For the Old Testament quote, see Genesis 21:12.

Isaac

The name that is transliterated as “Isaac” in English is signed in Spanish Sign Language and French Sign Language with a sign that is linked to his mother’s laughter when she hears that she will be pregnant with him (referring to Genesis 18:12 – 18:15) and also is the meaning of the Hebrew “Isaac” (Yitschaq — “he laughs”):


“Isaac” in French Sign Language (source: La Bible en langue des signes française )

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Isaac .

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

Translation commentary on Romans 9:7

The first part of this verse reads literally: “neither are all Abraham’s descendants children.” It is not clear whether Paul intends “children” to mean “Abraham’s children” or “God’s children.” On the basis of the following verse, the Good News Translation understands this to be a reference to the children of God (see also the New English Bible alternative rendering); others make it a clear reference to Abraham’s children. But even if “Abraham’s children” is intended, there should be some type of qualifier (New English Bible and Jerusalem Bible have “his true children”). Since the initial clause of verse 7 introduces a further example of a special relationship of people to God, it may be useful to introduce this clause by a conjunction like “moreover” or “furthermore.” There is a distinct problem in saying that “not all those who descended from Abraham are the children of God.” Such a rendering might seem to be entirely too general, particularly in view of the fact that the people referred to are actually “children according to God’s promise.” It may be necessary, therefore, in some languages to render this phrase as “the true children of God,” or “the children whom God promised to Abraham.”

Having introduced the major point in his argument, Paul now appeals to scripture to strengthen it. The reference is to Genesis 21.12, and Paul quotes from this verse without any introductory formula except the conjunction “but” (see Revised Standard Version). The Good News Translation makes it clear that the promise is something that God said to Abraham, a fact which is not made explicit in most translations.

The descendants of Isaac will be counted as yours may be translated as “only the offspring of Isaac will be counted as your offspring” or “only those who belong to Isaac’s family will be counted as your children.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Romans. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1973. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Romans 9:7

9:7a

(NET Bible🙂 nor are all the children Abraham’s true descendants: The Greek is literally “neither that (they) are seed of Abraham all children.” There are two issues of interpretation.

Issue 1: Interpretation of the Greek word hoti

There are several ways to interpret the Greek word that is often translated as “that.” Here are the main ones:

(1) The Greek word introduces an explanation. But 9:6b is already an explanation, so some versions translate this connection with “and.” For example:

and not all the descendants of Abraham count as his children (New Jerusalem Bible)

(New Jerusalem Bible, Good News Translation, New Living Translation (2004), God’s Word, NET Bible, New Century Version)

(2) The Greek word means “because” and connects “seed” to children, rather than back to 9:6b. For example:

Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children (New International Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, New International Version, New American Standard Bible, King James Version, English Standard Version, New American Bible, Revised Edition)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because the Greek word probably has the same meaning as in 9:6 (where the Berean Standard Bible leaves it implicit).

Issue 2: Interpretation of what the subject of the Greek verb translated are is

The Greek verb has the ending that indicates third person plural (“they” or a group mentioned in the clause). It is not clear whether to take “they” as referring to “seed” or children. (In Greek, the singular “seed” can refer to either a singular seed or plural seeds, so it is grammatical for “seed” here to take the plural verb ending.) There are a number of interpretations. Here are the three main ones:

(1) The subject is children. For example:

nor are all the children Abraham’s true descendants (New Revised Standard Version)

(New Revised Standard Version, NET Bible)

(2) The subject is seed/descendants. For example:

and not all the descendants of Abraham count as his children (New Jerusalem Bible)

(Good News Translation, New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, King James Version, New American Standard Bible, New Living Translation (2004), Revised English Bible, New American Bible, Revised Edition)

(3) The subject is all. For example:

and not all are children of Abraham because they are his descendants (Revised Standard Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, English Standard Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because it fits better with 9:7b and 9:8. But you may want to follow what the major language version does here.

9:7b

On the contrary: This indicates contrast to “all of the descendants of Abraham,” only part of 9:7a. Some languages would not consider “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named” to contrast to “not all the descendants of Abraham count as his children” (9:7a). For example:

because
-or-
God told him
-or-
Just like what God said to Abraham

“Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned”: This quote is from Genesis 21:12. In some languages a quote from the Old Testament must be clearly introduced as such. For example:

but ⌊as the Scriptures say,⌋ “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.”

If you indicate the location of quotes from the Old Testament with cross-references, you may want to do so here.

Of Abraham’s children, God only chose Isaac to inherit the promises of God to Abraham. Isaac and then Jacob became the founders of the people of Israel, and God named them his people. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

It is through Isaac that descendants shall bear your name (New American Bible, Revised Edition)
-or-
Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
It is only the descendants of Isaac who will be counted as your grandchildren/descendants

This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

⌊God said,⌋ “Through Isaac shall ⌊I⌋ reckon your offspring.”

The phrase Through Isaac is put in the front of the clause to emphasize it. In some languages, the phrase must be in its usual place. If possible emphasize it in another way. For example:

Of your (sg) children, only just the descendants of Isahak will I regard/consider your (sg) descendants
-or-
The descendants I promised you will be from Isaac (New Century Version)

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Commentaire sur la traduction de la lettre aux Romains 9.7

Ce verset complète ce qui vient d’être dit. Comme tous ceux qui se disent Israël ne sont pas Israël, ainsi tous ceux qui se disent fils d’Abraham ne le sont pas.

et, pour être la descendance d’Abraham, tous ne sont pas ses enfants. Paul présente un nouvel exemple de la relation spéciale entre certains êtres humains et Dieu. Le verset commence par une négation « non (plus) » ou « ni », οὐδέ oude, ce que plusieurs versions rendent par et plus la négation qui suit. La Bible de Jérusalem dit « De même que, pour être postérité d’Abraham… ». Les traducteurs devront trouver la transition qu’il faut, par exemple, « de plus » ou « en outre ».

pour être descendant d’Abraham rend le grec littéralement, avec un verbe à l’infinitif (Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Nouvelle Bible Segond, Bible de Jérusalem), mais plusieurs versions reformulent la phrase : « et les descendants d’Abraham… » (Bible en français courant), « et ceux qui sont nés dans la famille d’Abraham ne sont pas… ». Le mot rendu par descendant est σπέρμα sperma, « semence ». Voir Rom 1.3.

tous ne sont pas ses enfants : le texte dit litt. « ni pour être semence d’Abraham tous des enfants, mais… » La question se pose : Paul veut-il dire « les enfants d’Abraham » ou « les enfants de Dieu » ? Le texte ne le précise pas. Bien que le verset suivant traite de la question des « enfants de Dieu » (interprétation suivie par certaines versions), dans les versions françaises, la majorité opte pour une relation directe avec Abraham. La Bible en français courant et la Parole de Vie rendent explicite « ne sont pas ses vrais enfants », un modèle qui pourrait être suivi dans la traduction. On pourrait dire « ne sont pas les enfants que Dieu a promis à Abraham ». Mais si on adopte l’autre interprétation, on pourrait parler aussi des « …véritables enfants de Dieu ».

Pour bien appuyer l’argument qu’il vient de formuler, Paul cite un verset de l’Écriture, à savoir Gen 21.12. En grec, cette citation est introduite par la conjonction de contraste fort, ἀλλά alla, « mais » (Nouvelle Bible Segond, Bible de Jérusalem). La Traduction œcuménique de la Bible rend ce contraste par le mot Non suivi des deux points : Non : C’est la postérité d’Isaac…. Les traducteurs devraient bien exprimer ce lien logique : « mais », « au contraire », etc.

Plusieurs versions récentes choisissent de montrer que le texte cité est une parole que Dieu a adressée à Abraham : « car Dieu a dit à Abraham » (Bible en français courant), « Oui, Dieu a dit à Abraham » (Parole de Vie).

C’est la postérité d’Isaac qui sera appelée ta descendance : l’ordre des mots dans la Traduction œcuménique de la Bible reflète celui du grec où « par Isaac » se trouve au début de la proposition. Une autre façon de rendre cette proposition sera « C’est par Isaac que tu auras les descendants que je t’ai promis » (Bible en français courant) ou « Les enfants que je t’ai promis, tu les auras par Isaac » (Parole de Vie). Le sens est « seuls ceux qui appartiennent à la famille d’Isaac seront considérés comme tes enfants ». Encore une fois le mot pour descendance est σπέρμα sperma, « semence », répété deux fois ici.

Source: Margot, Jean-Claude & Zogbo, Lynell. La lettre aux Romains – Manuel de traduction – Commentaire linguistique et exégétique de la Bible. Alliance biblique universelle, 2021.